there is something so special about david jacobs, known physical touch hater, initiating contact with jack by resting his head on jack’s shoulder or leaning into his side or hugging him or resting his head on jack’s lap. like jackieeee is his safe space. jack is his exception to the rule. and i think it starts with jack being a naturally touchy guy
it’s a bit of a learning curve, at first. the jacobs family isn’t very touchy at all, save for les, and david isn’t quite used to it but he does like it, he finds. sometimes when david is lying with his head on jack’s thigh, jack will card his fingers through david’s curls, and that’s— well, it’s nice. or sometimes, jack will knock their shoulders together when he’s making fun of something, like that touch is their own personal inside joke. jack will walk with a hand on david’s back, or sling an arm around his shoulders/torso while they’re standing next to each other, and those little touches are what inspire david to start initiating contact, too. it’s nice. it’s different that his mother fussing with his hair or play-fighting with les or getting a well-meaning joking punch to the arm from sarah. this is touch david starts to seek out.